My Genealogy Hound

KEMPKER, GARRET H., farmer and dealer in drugs, groceries, Sec. 23, St. Paul; son of John H. Kempker, who was born in Hanover, Germany, 1797; raised a farmer, and in 1830, married Mary Nichting, also a native of Hanover, born 1801, and died in 1832, leaving one child, Mary A., now the wife of Joseph Haymeier, of West Point; in 1833, he married Mary A. Hillman, born in Hanover, Germany, 1804, and the fall of 1835, emigrated to America, stopping at Cleveland, O., where she died, leaving one child, Garret H., who was born in Hanover, Germany, June, 1834, and with him the father proceeded to what is now Lee Co.; arriving the spring of 1836, and with Barny Sand, settled on Sec. 23, Marion Tp.; the spring of 1837, he married Mary A. Sand, who was born in Hanover, Germany, 1792; came to America with her brother above mentioned; she died 1848, leaving no children. The father died March 20, 1872, having found a home with his son, G. H., since the death of his last wife; in May, 1857, Mr. Garret H. Kempker married Gertrude, daughter of Herman and Mary A. Menke, natives of Germany who emigrated to America and Lee Co. in 1854, they settled in Pleasant Ridge Tp., where her father died in 1861, her mother being at present a resident of West Point. They settled where he now resides, and owns 120 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; they have four children — Henry, born April, 1861; Herman, March 9, 1865; John, May 8, 1868, and Christina, July 17, 1875. Democrat in politics; has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and Township Trustee; member of the Catholic Church.